Gosh, another death attributed to suicide by hydrogen sulfide near Amherst, Belchertown, and the Quabbin.
UMass senior dies off campus, cause remains unreleased
Officials confirmed Thursday that University of Massachusetts senior James “Jim” W. Tan, 22, of Belchertown, died Feb. 19 off campus of unreleased causes.
The death, which occurred in Amherst, was “not suspicious” and no foul play is suspected, according to Mary Carey, spokesperson at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Carey said her office responds to “all unattended deaths,” meaning that state police assigned to the DA’s office check out every death that does not occur in a hospital to ensure no crimes were committed.
UMass spokesman Daniel Fitzgibbons said Tan was not an on-campus resident.
Tan, a senior, was studying mechanical engineering at the University.
“We extend our sincere condolences to James’ family,” wrote Dean of Students Enku Gelaye in an email addressed to the UMass community yesterday morning. The email notification came two days after Tan’s passing.
Fitzgibbons said that because the death happened off campus, University officials had to wait for the DA’s office and the Amherst Police Department to finish initial investigations into the case before notifying the UMass community.
“Usually it’s a case of you have to trace down next-of-kin,” Carey said.
Fitzgibbons said the Dean of Students Office was notified first on Thursday morning, and that the office has been in touch with Tan’s family and friends.
“Our concern is for his family and friends to make sure they get support from the University and to help them work through what is a difficult time for them,” Fitzgibbons said.“I would imagine that in the next day or two there will be some word on arrangements.”
In her email, Gelaye provided supportive resources for the UMass community to use, including those at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health, located at 127 Hills North in the Central Residential Area, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life in room 308 of the Student Union, the Dean of Students Office at 227 Whitmore and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, located on the ground floor of University Health Services.
Chelsie Field can be reached at cfield@student.umass.edu.
RELATED
Nov. 9, 2010 - UMass Student suicide at Rolling Green Apts. in Amherst
Jan 21, 2013 - UMass Student dies in Rolling Green fire
from ONLY IN THE REPUBLIC OF AMHERST
Last Tuesday in the early morning hours first responders descended on the Station Road Bike Path parking lot to deal with a tragic sad scene: a suicide.
But one that endangered them as well, because Jim Tan, age 22, had set off a chemical cocktail in his car, which posed a potentially deadly threat to anyone else who should come into contact with it.
Fortunately he took the time to post warning signs on the car window. This is the second time someone has chosen to end their life in this manner in our little town.
EMTs stood by for hours, Amherst Police closed off Station Road and the State Fire Marshall and the regional state HazMat team arrived to perform a careful investigation/clean up, which took six hours.
Why are you just hearing this disturbing detail now?
Well, UMass doesn't want to acknowledge/advertise one of its students committed suicide, state officials don't want Copy Cats getting any ideas, and traditional media -- even if they did have the story -- would have privacy concerns much like those dealt with in the case of rape victims, although in this case the concern is for the family.
But the death occurred on public property, potentially endangered public employees, and highlights what could be a growing problem.
The People have a right to know.
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